Fluidic artificial muscle actuator and swaging process therefor
US8307753B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 11, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53717
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fluidic artificial muscle actuator consisting of an inner elastic bladder surrounded by a braided filament sleeve and sealed off on either end with end fittings. Pressurization of the actuator produces force and/or motion through radial movement of the bladder and sleeve which forces the sleeve to move axially. Both contractile and extensile motions are possible depending on the geometry of the braided sleeve. The fluidic artificial muscle actuator is manufactured using a swaging process which plastically deforms swage tubes around the end fittings, braided sleeve, and pressure bladder, creating a strong mechanical clamping action that may be augmented with adhesive bonding of the components. The swaging system includes the swaging die and associated components which are used to plastically deform the swage tube during assembly of the actuator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.